Amsterdam’s Club RAUM is pushing nightlife forward

Dancefloor theorist McKenzie Wark once explained how the etiquette of a club can be judged by the resistance of moving through a crowd. Encountering rigid torsos and deliberate, obstructive limbs is telling of a stiff, unwelcoming space. But at Club RAUM, the Amsterdam-based queer venue, moving through the thicket of bodies is effortless.

This fluidity is no accident. Movement – both physical and cultural – has always been at the heart of RAUM. Before settling into a permanent space, founders Diego Meijers and Sven Bijma took their queer party, SPIELRAUM – meaning ‘room for play’ – to nondescript venues across the city. “We were intrigued by the meaning of play and how important it is for self-development and to be truly free,” explains co-owner Sven. Noticing cracks in Amsterdam’s queer nightlife, they set out to lay their own foundations, metaphorically at first, creating ephemeral spaces for queer and marginalised identities.

With a demand for a more permanent fixture, it wasn’t long before the foundations became physical. Architects – and early SPIELRAUM partygoers – Bram van Grinsven and Joaquinn Valdes set to work designing Club RAUM, a playground-like venue housed within stone-clad walls and sweaty ceilings. “They created a space where you can lose yourself. A place where the chaotic energy of a club night can be dealt with structurally, so that the space doesn’t feel suffocating,” Diego tells Dazed.

RAUM is in constant flux – not just the sweat-sheened bodies undulating on the dancefloor but in its very ethos. “CLUB RAUM shall never be completed; it will always be in movement.” But here, movement is more than just physical, it is reciprocal. Within its smoke-cloyed rooms, the crowd feeds off the music, and the music, in turn, responds to the crowd. The relentless breakbeats of SPIELRAUM’s lineup absorb the energy of the room and push it back out with intensity. Whether in the hypnotic precision of resident Ræza or the politically charged techno of Sandrien, motion in the club is a continuous loop of energy exchanged between the space, the sound and the bodies within it.

This exchange isn’t just about the music. In a time of rising political tensions for queer identities, RAUM has become as much a refuge as it is a rave. “Clubs have always been sanctuaries for queer people – places where those who don’t fit into heteronormativity can find freedom, purpose, safety, belonging,” Diego explains. “We want to listen, nurture and take care of the people who come to our club, creating a space that feels as welcoming as a living room,” he adds. The club’s labyrinthine design supports this dynamism, allowing bodies to drift between curated spaces – a room with LED-lit plants, a darkened enclave streaming 3D art on the walls, or a softer space where clubgoers recharge on bananas and maté.

Amsterdam’s club scene has shifted since RAUM’s inception. “Things seem to be way more event-focused nowadays,” says Diego. The financial risks of running a club are higher than ever, pushing venues towards headliner-driven lineups and leaving less space for emerging talent. “The state of the economy means that people have less disposable income, so it’s not as easy for people to go and party every weekend. They choose their club nights carefully,” he adds. But evolving from a party to a club, RAUM resists these pressures, staying rooted in a sense of community. “The one thing that should unite us all is a shared commitment to actively supporting and uplifting each other, despite our differences,” says Sven.

We can’t turn a blind eye to those who get lost within the hedonism.

– Diego Meijers, co-founder

Beyond logistical hurdles, RAUM has also had to push back against misconceptions. “There is a big stigma surrounding night culture – especially queer night culture,” Sven adds. “Many might view it as two-dimensional, with the sole purpose of promiscuity.” But RAUM is proving otherwise. Recognising that nightlife is more than just escapism, Diego and Sven are shaping the club into a space for dialogue, learning and artistic development. This year, the club is launching a series of panel discussions and cultural events tackling topics like sex, drug use and finding hope in difficult times. “While a club can offer a space for perpetual release and escapism, we can’t turn a blind eye to those who get lost within the hedonism,” Diego explains.

Alongside these conversations, they’re introducing educational talks on music production, queer history as well as a new residency programme for Amsterdam-based artists, ensuring that RAUM’s movement is always in a forward direction.

Check the galleries above for snaps from Club RAUM's recent weekender. Catch the next party, SPIELRAUM Valentine’s Edition on February 14 and 15.